Chapter 2: Dimensions
“It's hard, isn't it?” A voice called out as Sagaa Sozo returned from the courtyard. Tilted his head, saw a ghost standing behind him. “Who are you?” Sozo asked. “Are ghosts here also like to mind other people’s affairs?” The ghost chuckled. “Forgive me for not introducing myself properly Captain Sagara, I'm one of the officers here, in charge of ghosts admittance and reincarnations, my name is Kitkat, it's my honor finally meeting you.” The man called Kitkat bowed slightly. “Kitkat?” Sozo frowned slightly hearing his name. “What kind of name is that? Are you not Japanese? Your clothing does look very different from mine.” Kitkat simply smiled at him, then pulled out a red plastic package from his pocket, on the packet it says “Kitkat”. “Wait….don't tell me…” he blinked. He wanted to ask more but he found himself hard to, he has already been rude enough with his behaviour earlier. “It's chocolate from foreign country,” Kitkat kindly explained. “You see, when you die you come to a place that is like a Common Ground, in here you not only see ghosts of all living things and from all times as well, that's why it needs officers like me to help keep track and regulate order and peace, or it would be chaos. In this Common Ground, ghosts can meet from all times and places, and that's why when they were to reborn into next life, they are required to drink a special soup, that will erase all the memories away. And well, it also depends on how good their memories are, some forgotten themselves faster than others, and sometimes it's just a trickery of minds.” He paused and looked at silent Sozo, who has been wearing a blank expression once he started explanation. “Would you like to try? It's quite good actually. There is a shop, but since it's from the future, it is kinda far and a pain to travel.” He opened the package and tore him a piece, “here, try it.” Sozo stared at it for a moment before taking it off from Kitkat’s hand, “thank you,” he popped to his mouth. “It's sweet, but it's good.” “See? I told you so!” Kitkat beamed at Sozo’s response. “Anyway, you must be wondering why I'm here, I'm actually looking for you. I think the Boss here likes you, he knows and understands you well, and he's asking if you want to be reborn, starting a new life. He finds a pity you died so young, and your life before….who you were, what you did, they are all buried by the new Meiji government, it's like they wiped out your existence, hardly anyone will remember you or Sekihotai group, let alone show any appreciation. So,” he paused and looked at Saizo, “what do you say? You are an exception, usually one has to wait for hundreds of years for this to come, and yet you've only been here for five months. So?” Sozo looked at the man in front of him, a long silence is shared. “Why?” He finally asked, in a soft spoken voice. “I'm sure there are many like me, like my comrades, for example. Would my men get this opportunity as well? You have to give me more than that. And besides,” he paused and turned his back, raised his head to look at the dark gloomy sky, “I don't think I'm ready, not ready to reborn, not in this mental state….I'm mad at Kyo, but I had faults too, I wasn't a good husband, nor was I a good husband.” An arm placed on his shoulder, “that's exactly the reason why you should take up this offer, not as a reborn, but as a relive, as yourself, Sagara Sozo.” “How? When I'm dead? What's the meaning to relive there as a ghost when no one know me or cannot even see me? And relive under the new government….sorry I would like to pass…” “No,” Kitkat shook his head, “not in that era. And there is one other reason you are an exception, you have been called.” “Called? By who?” “Tell me, have you had any dreams recently?” Hearing this, Sozo turned to face him again, “many nights, the last scene of my life played over and over again. I tried not to think but I can't help but to think, it feels like it's sending me a message but what? Perhaps it serves me as a reminder for myself of what a fool I was.” “The message is there, but it's the opposite.” Kitkat changed his light-hearted tone to a serious one. “I will take you somewhere and show you something, the Dream Space. That space has no boundaries of Heavens, Hell, or Earth, nor time or space. You are been called by someone, who is like a clairvoyant, but she's actually a space-walker, she can travel in between dimensions though she might not know it herself. Sagara Sozo, she walked into your dream. I'll watch your dream with you, you shall go find her. Through her, you might find a chance.” Sozo did not respond. “You better decide fast, while her ability is strongest at this time, once it's passed it’s passed. Aren't you curious who that someone might be? What kind of person she is yet she called to you? I mean, she doesn't even know you.” “So how do I know which one is her? There were many onlookers in my dream.” “You will know….that's how it works, trust your instincts. But oh yes before we go we go buy some apple cider and drink it first. She likes the drink. It kinda serves a connection to her dream without she knowing that she's been watched.”